White Chocolate Raspberry Muffins

These have to be at the top of my list of favorite muffins.  I had them at a cookie exchange at my friend Brandi's house like 2-3 years ago.  I keep losing the recipe so I thought I would put it on my blog so I will have it forever!  Hope you try them out!

White Chocolate Raspberry Muffins

 

1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened

1 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/2 c. flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. raspberries

1/2 c. white chocolate chips

In  bowl mix cream cheese and sugar until creamy.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Add flour, baking powder, and salt.  Stir in white choc. chips, and berries.  Bake at 375 degrees for 18-25 minutes.  (1 dozen)

Oatmeal Raisinet Cookies

I made these last night and they are so yummy!  I don't know why I never thought of putting Raisinets in my cookies!  I will only eat raisins this way...Raisinets are a favorite of mine.  I will basically try anything when it is coated in chocolate!!  So I have Picky Palate for inventing this recipe.  Try it...your mouth will thank you for it!

Oatmeal Raisinet Cookies

1 stick softened butter
1/2 Cup packed brown sugar
1/2 Cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla
1 1/2 Cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Cup quick oats
2 3.5 oz boxes Raisinets

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place butter and sugars into a stand or electric mixer; beat until light and fluffy. With mixer on medium add egg and vanilla until well combined. Place flour, soda, salt and oats into a large bowl. Slowly add to wet ingredients until just combined. Add raisinets; stir to combine.

2. With a medium cookie scoop, scoop dough onto a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet. Bake for 9-10 minutes. Let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack.

School Carnival

This last Saturday we went to Caden's school Carnival.  There was tons to do!  They had a blast!  Caden got his face painted to look like a snake...WOW!  It looked AMAZING!  
Caden the Snake with Hanky the Clown.  
Noah was totally freaked out by how Caden looked.  He kept asking when Caden was going to take a shower.  He refused to get his face painted (but now wishes he did...he keeps asking when he gets to get his face painted...) so instead he got a snake tatoo.  Which still will not wash off.  

They ate lots of popcorn, cotton candy, suckers, played football, soccer and baseball, bounced on the bounce house, fished, got balloons and whatever else there was.  It was a fun time and now I have a million junk toys floating around the house:)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

We recently had New Beginnings and some of the leaders brought cupcakes.  My friend Christie brought these little beauties, and I had to make them myself...chocolate and Peanut Butter is anouther crave (and I'm wondering why  I have gained so much weight???).  Anyway, these are to die for!  Seriously amazing!  I could just take a spoon and eat the frosting;)  The recipe came from My Baking Addiction.  You can make the homemade cake, or take a shortcut and use a boxed Devils Food cake.  Either way, check out this girls blog, I was in heaven and want to make everything on it:)
Hershey's "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Cake
Source: Hershey's Website

Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.
2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost. 10 to 12 servings.
Cupcakes: Line muffin cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups. Heat oven to 350°F. Fill cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake 22 to 25 minutes. Cool completely. Frost. About 30 cupcakes.

Peanut Butter Icing
Source: Ina Garten (Food TV)

Ingredients:
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup heavy cream

Directions:
Place the confectioners sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium-low speed until creamy, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula as you work. Add the cream and beat on high speed until the mixture is light and smooth.

Crispy Chocolate Cherry Treats

I saw these on My Kitchen Cafe and I seriously dreamnt about them.  So the next day I bought all the stuff, made them and then stuffed my face.  I used cherry flavored Craisins because I couldn't decide between cherries and craisins...problem solved:)  Anyway...hope you enjoy them!
    Crispy Chocolate Cherry Treats
                                                            adapted from Cook's Country

3 tablespoons butter
1 (10-ounce) bag marshmallows
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 cups Rice Krispies cereal (or off-brand works fantastic, too)
1 cup dried cherries or cranberries (I used dried cranberries)
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted

Prepare pan by lining an 11X7-inch baking dish with foil, allowing excess foil to hang over pan edges. If you want the treats thinner, use a 9X13 - for thicker treats still, use an 8X8-inch pan. I found the 11X7 pan size to be perfect - not too thick and not too thin. Grease the foil with nonstick cooking spray.

Melt butter in a large pot over low heat. Add marshmallows, white chocolate chips, and salt and cook, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth, about 8 minutes. Stir in vanilla.

Off heat, stir in rice krispies and cherries or cranberries until incorporated. Scrape mixture into prepared pan and press into bottom and corners with a greased spatula (I just used my fingers since the marshmallows weren't overly hot at this point). Let cool completely, about 1 hour.

Melt semisweet chocolate chips in the microwave on low at 30 second intervals until smooth. Pour melted chocolate into a ziploc baggie, pressing chocolate into one corner of the bag. Using scissors, clip a tiny piece off the corner and drizzle chocolate over cooled treats. Allow chocolate to cool, about 45 minutes. Using foil overhang, lift treats from pan. Cut into squares. Serve. 

Dallas Museums

My parents came to visit us over Valentines Day weekend.  We had the best time with them!  We started the day off by going to The Dallas Science Museum, Planetarium and the Children's Museum.  The first picture is the famly by the Cotton Bowl.  The last one of the boys is this fun sidewalk art that is in the middle of a big pond and you can walk all over the place.  Very cool.
Ben, the boys and my parents in front of a huge Mammoth.
At the Science museum they have so much hands on activities: Caden and Mimi moving a structure, Ben and Noah building with blocks, Mimi and Noah playing with magnets and Popie and Caden playing with them as well.
The Children's Museum was their favorite!  They got to dress up as firemen and play in a fire truck.
Here they are playing with music, and building things.  
Here is another piece of artwork you can walk around...love Noah's pose...
They also had a farm where you could shop for fruit and veggies, ride John Deer "tractors", milk a cow and also go rock climbing.  They had a blast.  What's sad is we have lived in DFW for a good 6 years, and this is the first time going there...oh well...now we know it is here and we will be going quite frequently:)

After the museum we ate at the Olive Garden and then the girls went shopping.  My sweet Mom was trying to get me excited about having another boy.  We did find some cute boy clothes!  Hope you all had a wonderful Valentines Day as well!

On a sidenote...what did I do wrong with my collages?  They are so small and there is all that white background???

I {Heart} Fondant

Last night I went to a cake decorating class (thanks for teaching it Tanya!!  You are amazing!).  It was all about fondant.  Can I just tell you that I have fallen in love?  I actually dreamnt of fondant last night and all the amazing things I can do!  Now as you look at these pictures, keep in mind that it is my first cake with fondant...no laughing.  Tanya even gave recipes for Marshmallow fondant...which actually tastes pretty good.  The chocolate fondant tastes like tootsie roll.  The Wilton kind smells like chemicals...I can't bring myself to try it!  
Anywho...I will be using fondant more now.  I am no longer scared!!  I can't wait to buy all the fun cutters and stuff!  OH the possibilities:)

Sidenote...I'm not going to lie to you....my cake tasted amazing.  I had to dig into it today...cake has been a major craving!  It was a white cake with an almond kick to it, lemon curd filling 

(yum-o) and an almond buttercream frosting.  I was in heaven!!

Its....

Another Boy.  

Caden's reaction:  very excited

Noah's reaction: "Ahh man...I wanted a girl"

Dad's reaction: Alright!

Mom's reaction:  cried

We are very grateful to have a healthy baby boy coming soon.  My prediction...July 4th.  But I was wrong about it being a boy.  Who knows.

Next Stop...the Tooth Fairy

This is my little cutie with all his teeth.  This will be the last time that I get to look at this cute little face for a VERY LONG time.  It is kinda sad.  I wasn't expecting this day so soon.  Thanks alot Noah....Anyway.  We went to the Dentist today and Caden had to get his tooth pulled (I posted the story of why a few posts ago...) because the root was fractured (when they pulled it out, the tooth was in two pieces...ouch).  Thankfully this boy was soooo excited!  He can't wait for the Tooth Fairy to come.  He wasn't nervous or anything.  What a big boy.  Here is the after picture:
He still looks adorable!  Right now he refuses to swallow, so he is drooling all over the place.  When he does try to swallow he makes it as loud as possible (it really grosses me out).  He luckily is not in any pain!!  The Dentist said there is a possibility that he might loose the tooth next to it in 6 months since the bone was wiggled and jiggled.  Which means that he will have the top two and bottom two gone all at once. How cute.  Anyway, I'm so proud of him for being such a big boy.  
Now, Noah can't stay out of the picture for too long.  He seems to crave attention.  He was in his room just a few minutes ago and came running to me telling me he put "gum trash" up his nose. I looked and did not even see anything up there, it was that far up there and flashbacks started to come to mind. (Yes, I know...he has some fettish with the nose, first the bead, now this...the boy has issues).  LUCKILY he now knows how to blow, so we were able to blow that bad boy out.  He is now banned from beads and "gum trash", I am adding gum to the list as well.  

Personal Progress Folders

I was looking at Sugardoodle the other day and found these little Folders and new I had to make them!  As some of you know I am in YW, a church organization, and I spoke with the other leaders and we decided to make these for the girls for New Beginnings.  At first is was for their b-days, but they got way to excited about them and they kept getting bummed out when they realized they had to wait till their birthday.  So, we decided to give them out a bit early.  The YW seem to loose their books quite frequently, so we thought it might make them keep them in one place!
Let me tell you how fun it was to figure out a pattern for these...so if you want the dimensions, I will get off my lazy duff and measure for you.  But I can tell you that I bought 1/2 yard increments (so 2 different fabrics, 1/2 yard each) and I was able to get 3 out of the amount.  Hope this gives you an idea for any of you in Young Womens!  I love sugardoodle!!

Black Bottom Cupcakes

Lately my biggest crave has been cupcakes.  I seriously can't get enough of them.  I dream about them.  Ben, unfortunately is not a cake type of guy.  He just humors me.  I asked him if there was a kind that he may want and he asked for these.  I had been searching for a recipe for awhile and couldn't find one that I thought sounded good enough.  Then, I went to my friend, Ashley's, blog and she had just posted these.  Bless you!!  They are soooo good!  I hope you enjoy them!

Black Bottom Cupcakes

3 c. flour

2 c. sugar

1/2 c. cocoa

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. soda

2 c. water

2/3 c. oil

2 tsp. vinegar

2 tsp. vanilla

Mix dry ingredients and pour wet into dry ingredients.  Fill each muffin tin 1/3 of the way with cake batter.  Put 1 TBS filling on top.  Then cover with more cake batter.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.  

Filling:

1 (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

1 egg

1/3 c. sugar

1/8 tsp. salt

1 c. chocolate chips

Beat first 4 ingredients together, then add chocolate chips.  

Enjoy!!

 

Tooth Pulling?

I know it has been awhile since I have posted anything...I really have had nothing to post.  Nothing.  It has been so incredibly boring around here!  Unfortunately today I have found something to blog about.  It is unfortunate because of what I'm posting.  

Today we had a little mishap...Noah and Caden were "rough housing" and as they were running, Noah pushed Caden.  Caden fell on the tile.  Caden hit his front two teeth on the tile.  Caden is screaming.  Blood is everywhere.  Luckily I was in the middle of making Black Bottom Cupcakes (recipe is coming soon...thanks Ashley) so I didn't hear the "noise" that might have come.  

So, I am checking his teeth and cleaning up the mess and the teeth feel a little loose.  So of course I freak out and call my friend Sharla to see what she thinks I should do (she is a Dental Hygenist)  and she says I should probably get it checked out.  So we go and get X-Rays just to be on the safe side.  Well, it apears that his front right tooth has a fractured root.  What does that mean?  It means that it will have to be pulled.  What does that mean?  It means that he will be toothless there for like 2 years until his permenent teeth grow in.  I'm just grateful that it is just the one tooth and not the top two.  I can only imagine how he would speak for 2 years.  We will find out for sure what is going to happen on Monday and how we have to go about this.  In the meantime, I am going to take lots of pictures of my cutie now with all his teeth...

I just hope Caden doesn't seek revenge on his brother:)  Did I mention that Ben is out of town?  Of course he is!  From Wed. morning until late tonight.  Fun for me.

Tile Coasters

I just made some coasters and wanted to share them with you! Too bad I didn't do this at Christmas time...they would have made really cute gifts! Oh well...maybe next year:)
Anyway...these were so easy to make!!! Here is what you need:

1. Tumbled tiles, 4x4's (they come 9 to a box at Home Depot and cost $5 or $6)

2. Stamps

3. Stazon ink...color Timber Brown

4. Distressed ink (optional)...color brushed corduroy

5. Sponge

6. Spray adhesive so the water from the cup won't ruin them

7. Cork for the bottom

First wipe down each tile (there is a powder on all of them).

Then stamp away with the stazon ink.

I then used the distressed ink and sponge and inked the edges and the whole tile to make it looke a little distressed.

Let the ink dry.

Then preheat the oven to 330 degrees and bake them for about 3 minutes.

After that, spray with the adhesive. (Spray this stuff outside!! On top of newspaper!!)

When it is all dry, put some cork board on the bottom (it is sticky on one side, so just cut it to the right size and stick it on)
That's it! Very easy!! Hope you have fun making them!